Connectedness

“Be Kind, For Everyone You Meet is Fighting a Hard Battle”

These words written by Plato, are so meaningful for all of us at this time in our lives.

The more secluded we are, the greater is the realization how sorely we miss the interaction between our friends and relatives.

 

In fact, throughout history, when the unity of the Jewish People was fractured, the results were catastrophic. For when there is no appreciation of Kedushat Ha’adam,then Kedushat Hamakom is lost. 

 

This safe distancing makes us realize, more, the intrinsic holiness of man, which should be predicated in our respect for each other.  מגן אברהם in או״ח, reflects

קודם תפילת שחרית יקבל עליו מצות עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך, We are to preface our morning prayers with a statement of our willingness to accept upon ourselves the commandment to love our fellowman.

 

Our absence from each other strikes a very definitive cord in how much we miss this daily and hourly human intercourse that, too often, we take for granted. 

 

That which we don’t have is missed more than the appreciation for that which we do have.

 

It is interesting that the Hebrew word for love, אהבה, has the same numerical value for the word אחד, both adding up to the number 13 - suggesting that if we want to achieve our oneness as a nation, then we need to express our love for one another, especially in these trying times, with a greater sense of Chesed and concern. I realize that with so many fatalities and sickness, in our respective communities,   our outlook to life is very myopic and I can readily understand our reasoning but, as loving people, we must begin to think more away from ourimmediate domicile and more to our outside world, especially to our glorious מדינת ישראל.  As we commemorate two very important days in the Jewish Calendar, Yom Hazikoron and Yom HaAzmaut  we understand, more, what it means to be  Jewish, bestowing upon us a pride that gives credence to our existence and to our identity.

 

We must never forget how it was for Jewsbefore we were Blessed with a Jewish State, and always remember the Pasuk הן עם לבדד ישכן ובגוים לא יתחשב “

“A people that dwells apart and will not receive consideration among the nations.”  That was real isolation and quarantine by the world expressing great animosity and hatred, totally restricting the Jew from all mankind. However, with this restricted living, the glory and the greatness of the Jewish People came through. These were years of incubation, bringing about tremendous growth in all facets of statehood, and especially strengthening our moral and intellectual capacity. 

 

Beyond our military strength and courage, our Jewish brethren refined their relationship with G-D.

 

After two thousand years we, once again, became courageous heroes, hearing the words of Moshe, התיצבו וראו את ישועת הי 

“Do not fear, stand fast and you will experience the salvation of G-D.”

That was the rallying call for the Jewish People in 1948, and it still is our call of assurance in our day and age, as well.

 

It was in the courage of solitude past that our Prophets heard their call, and it is in this worrisome time that the call comes to all as it did in the past illuminating  our lives today.

 

I am reminded of the words of Churchillwhen he faced, with courage, a great storm of possible devastation; 

“When I look back on the perils that have been overcome, upon the great mountain waves in which the gallant ship has driven, when I remember all that has gone wrong and remember also, all that has gone right, I feel sure we have no need to fear the tempest. Let it roar and let it rage. We shall come through.”

 

The Parsha this week is Kedoshim, Holy as Rashi comments, פרושים, Separate.  For, in this process we will achieve a greater sense of Holiness, binding us in greater proximity to Hashem and to all mankind. 

 

Permit to share the following story that exudes feelings of optimism in these trying times;

 

There was once a king who owned an enormous and very beautiful diamond. Every day, the king took the diamond from its jewel-encrusted box and looked with awe as the gem transformed sunlight into magnificent, shimmering kaleidoscopes of color. It made him very happy.

One day, the king accidentally dropped the diamond. It grazed the side of its box, and then fell heavily to the floor of the throne room. Picking it up, the king found a long, jagged scratch down one side of the stone. Horrified, he immediately called upon his royal jewelers to repair the gem, but they were unable to do so. The king then called upon other jewelers from other lands near and far, but none were able repair the diamond as the king wanted.

Finally, a pauper appeared at the palace and said that he could repair the king’s jewel. The king and his advisers were wary at first, but then, realizing they had nothing to lose; they invited the pauper to proceed. 

The pauper retreated into a cell, and after working for an entire week, he emerged and handed the king his diamond box. Sitting upon, his throne, the king opened the box, smiled with delight and held up the jewel for all to see.

The pauper had not removed the jagged line at all. Instead, he had etched an image of a rose onto one end of it, leaving the scratch as the stem of the beautiful flower. 

Some wounds won’t go away, but if we handle them correctly, we can make the wound even more beautiful than before.

Let us live with optimism to see the end of this dark tunnel, and hope that we will see our rose of life once again rather than its thorns.

  Let us continue to pray for our Yeshuah and for a Refuah for everyone. 

 

 שבת שלום ומבורך

 

                                                                                                       יום העצמאות שמח        ולתפארת מדינת ישראל                            

        

                                                                                                                                                                                            Please share your thoughts with me